September 1979: In September pressures were below normal over the whole of New Zealand for the second month in succession. There was a greater frequency of westerly winds throughout the country, and in central districts a high number of gusts was recorded. At Kelburn there were 12 days in the month with gusts of at least 96 km/h (52 knots), the greatest number for September since records began in 1953. Cloudy conditions prevailed in most districts with above normal temperatures. Ground conditions were still wet and muddy until late in the month.
Rainfall: The only areas with below normal rainfall were Nelson, Marlborough, and Canterbury, and parts of Northland, Waikato, Taranaki, and Manawatu. In Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa some places were above average by more than 100% and in Southland by at least 50%. At Waingawa, Masterton, a 24-hour fall of 58mm was recorded at the beginning of the month. At Milford Sound more than 180mm were recorded in the 24 hours to 9am/29th and further heavy rain was recorded on the 30th. In Marlborough and Canterbury some of the lowest September falls for at least 10 years were recorded. At Blenheim, only 20mm fell (the lowest for the month since 1965) and at Timaru 14mm, only 34% of average.
Some monthly totals (mm): Masterton 131, Napier 76, Westport 239, Milford 947, Mt Cook 521, Te Anau 145, Invercargill 132; Kaitaia 79, Waitarere 35, Grassmere 11, Earnscleugh 18.
Temperatures: Most of the country had temperatures at least 1/2C above the average and in Taranaki, Nelson, Marlborough and parts of Canterbury they were above by more than 1C. The only areas with slightly below normal temperatures were parts of Northland, Wellington, Southland, and Fiordland. Night minima were appreciably above average in most districts. During the first half of the month temperatures were well above average, but the 23rd-26th and 29th-30th were very cold periods.
23.4C maximum at Akaroa on the 13th,
-4.6C minimum at Molesworth on the 21st.
Sunshine: Sunshine hours were below or near normal over the whole of New Zealand for the month. In Manawatu, Wellington, Wairarapa, and Marlborough the departures were 30% below normal. At Masterton only 65% of the average was recorded.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 171, Waitangi 161, Whangarei 142, Auckland 161, Tauranga 155, Whakatane 168, Rotorua 145, Taupo 116, Te Kauwhata 157, Hamilton 133, New Plymouth 144, Masterton 106, Dannevirke 94, Gisborne 175, Napier 135, Wairoa 142, Paraparaumu 99, Ohakea 110, Palmerston North
75(*), Levin 78, Wellington 127, Stratford 126, Wanganui 105, Westport 123, Hokitika 134, Greymouth 109, Riwaka 151, Nelson 152, Blenheim 148, Grassmere 136, Kaikoura 137, Mt Cook 106, Mt John 179, Methven 144, Christchurch 134, Tekapo 173, Timaru 137, Oamaru Aero 110, Omarama 166, Palmerston 131, Dunedin 103, Te Anau 109, Queenstown 152, Cromwell 168, Alexandra 145,Gore 135, Invercargill 118.]
(*) Palmerston North’s combined August-September total sunshine of only 144 hours is the lowest ever recorded in New Zealand.
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
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February 17, 2012, 07:33:36 AM